England 2-1 DR Congo: Harry Kane’s Late Brace Rescues Three Lions in World Cup Thriller

By Marcus Reyes · July 2, 2026 · 4:08 am

England beat DR Congo 2-1 as Harry Kane's late brace rescues Three Lions in FIFA World Cup 2026 Round of 32 — Harry Kane to the rescue! England survived a massive scare to beat DR Congo 2-1 in the FIFA World Cup 2026 Round of 32 at Mercedes-Benz Stadium, Atlanta

Harry Kane scored twice in the final 15 minutes to drag England past a spirited DR Congo side 2-1 in the Round of 32 of the 2026 FIFA World Cup, avoiding what would have been one of the great shocks of the tournament.

How the Match Unfolded

DR Congo, playing without fear against one of the pre-tournament favorites, took a shock lead in just the seventh minute through Brian Cipenga, and defended resolutely for long periods to frustrate an England side that struggled to find rhythm in the final third. For large stretches it looked as though the underdogs might pull off a stunning upset.

England’s response came late but decisively. Kane leveled the score with a header, dragging his side back into the contest, before producing a moment of real quality four minutes from time — receiving the ball on the edge of the box, creating half a yard of space, and drilling a fierce finish into the roof of the net to complete the turnaround. The two goals took Kane’s World Cup tally to 12 and 13 respectively, underlining his status as England’s talisman on the biggest stage.

Key Talking Points

DR Congo’s performance, built around a disciplined defensive shape and a willingness to hit England on the break, will be remembered as one of the standout underdog displays of the Round of 32, even in defeat. Goalkeeper Mpasi was singled out for praise for keeping his side in the game deep into the second half.

For England, the result raises legitimate questions about their fluency in the final third against low-block opposition, a recurring theme this tournament. That Kane once again proved the difference will be of some comfort, but manager will know the performance level needs to rise against tougher opposition ahead.

What’s Next

England’s reward is a Round of 16 tie against Mexico in Mexico City, kicking off at 1am BST on Monday, July 6. Given the difficulty of Wednesday’s win, England will need a significant improvement in performance to progress further in the competition.